Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

A teenager has died within two days of entering an internet addiction camp, marking the latest tragedy at the hands of one of China’s harsh addiction treatment centres.

Eighteen-year-old Li Ao was found to have over 20 external injuries as well as internal injuries, according to state media, though the exact cause of death is unknown.

After various attempts at controlling his time spent online, Li’s parents sent him earlier this month to an internet addiction treatment camp in Fuyang city in Anhui province, a poor region in eastern China.

The camp claimed to use “gentle treatment” – psychological counselling and physical training – and promised there was no use of corporal punishment.

But within 48 hours of their son’s arrival, the parents were told he had been taken into hospital where he later died. His parents were allowed to see his body. The cause of death is currently unclear.

Li’s parents had tried encouraging their son to set up a business, join the army, go travelling – without success.